Rabbitohs Catch Roosters Napping

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have recorded the first victory in the 2014 Telstra Premiership with a 28-8 defeat of the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium. A relatively low crowd of 27,282 was in attendance for the ‘blockbuster’ season opener.

A series of rule changes saw the speed of the match increased as the South Sydney pack rampaged over the Bondi Wall to run in 4 tries to 1.

The tricolours only four-pointer came 11 minutes into the contest and it was truly against the run of play as Daniel Tupou came up with a deflection. Tupou managed kicked the ball 90 metres downfield for Michael Jennings to race in the only Roosters try.

South Sydney were the true performers as Man of the Match, Greg Inglis claimed a hat trick of tries, courtesy of his speed and power. His first came in the 23rd minute as the Rabbitohs locked the game up at 6-all as he managed to fend off three Roosters defenders to plant the Steeden down.

The Rabbitohs continued to mount pressure on the Roosters goal line with Dylan Walker and Luke Burgess almost crossing for points, however, after a tiring forty minutes both sides headed for drinks at 6-all.

A slight advantage in possession saw the Roosters gain an early in the second half lead, 8-6, with a successful penalty goal to James Maloney in the 43rd minute.

However, the lead was short lived as Greg Inglis darted into a yawning defensive gap as the Roosters crumbled under the pace of the South Sydney pack. The Rabbitohs’ marched ahead to a 12-8 lead.

Adam Reynolds opted to extend the lead to 16-8 in the space of five minutes as a string of defensive penalties conceded by the Roosters allowed the Rabbitohs some breathing space on the scoreboard.

The Rabbitohs closed out the contest with a further two tries as Bryson Goodwin flew over the Roosters defence to score via a John Sutton bomb and Greg Inglis sealed his hat trick thanks to the skills of the speedy hooker, Issac Luke.

The Redfern club chalked up the first competition points of the new season with a convincing 28-8 victory over the Sydney Roosters. There are a few concerns for both clubs out of the match with Ben Te'o and Sonny Bill Williams to face the NRL Judiciary with shoulder charge offences. Meanwhile on the injury front, Chris McQueen left the field late in the second half with a possible foot injury, and referee Luke Phillips sustained a calf injury which saw him replaced during the match by Grant Atkins.

FULL TIME at ANZ Stadium sees the South Sydney Rabbitohs claim the first victory in the 2014 Telstra Premiership over the Sydney Roosters, 28-8. It was a fast paced match with the Souths pack over running the defence of the Roosters.

80

Penalty to South Sydney for another shoulder charge, but it means nothing as the siren echos around Sydney Olympic Park

Beau Champion jumped quickly looking to take an intercept pass as the Roosters spread to Michael Jennings. Scrum packs for the Roosters 10 metres shy of halfway

72

John Sutton took a dive towards the goal post but met the pads. Issac Luke in the previous play looked to burrow under the defence on the last tackle, however it's all in vain. Roosters come up with possession

The South Sydney Rabbitohs have recorded the first victory in the 2014 Telstra Premiership with a 28-8 defeat of the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium. A relatively low crowd of 27,282 was in attendance for the ‘blockbuster’ season opener.

A series of rule changes saw the speed of the match increased as the South Sydney pack rampaged over the Bondi Wall to run in 4 tries to 1.

The tricolours only four-pointer came 11 minutes into the contest and it was truly against the run of play as Daniel Tupou came up with a deflection. Tupou managed kicked the ball 90 metres downfield for Michael Jennings to race in the only Roosters try.

South Sydney were the true performers as Man of the Match, Greg Inglis claimed a hat trick of tries, courtesy of his speed and power. His first came in the 23rd minute as the Rabbitohs locked the game up at 6-all as he managed to fend off three Roosters defenders to plant the Steeden down.

The Rabbitohs continued to mount pressure on the Roosters goal line with Dylan Walker and Luke Burgess almost crossing for points, however, after a tiring forty minutes both sides headed for drinks at 6-all.

A slight advantage in possession saw the Roosters gain an early in the second half lead, 8-6, with a successful penalty goal to James Maloney in the 43rd minute.

However, the lead was short lived as Greg Inglis darted into a yawning defensive gap as the Roosters crumbled under the pace of the South Sydney pack. The Rabbitohs’ marched ahead to a 12-8 lead.

Adam Reynolds opted to extend the lead to 16-8 in the space of five minutes as a string of defensive penalties conceded by the Roosters allowed the Rabbitohs some breathing space on the scoreboard.

The Rabbitohs closed out the contest with a further two tries as Bryson Goodwin flew over the Roosters defence to score via a John Sutton bomb and Greg Inglis sealed his hat trick thanks to the skills of the speedy hooker, Issac Luke.

The Redfern club chalked up the first competition points of the new season with a convincing 28-8 victory over the Sydney Roosters. There are a few concerns for both clubs out of the match with Ben Te'o and Sonny Bill Williams to face the NRL Judiciary with shoulder charge offences. Meanwhile on the injury front, Chris McQueen left the field late in the second half with a possible foot injury, and referee Luke Phillips sustained a calf injury which saw him replaced during the match by Grant Atkins.

FULL TIME at ANZ Stadium sees the South Sydney Rabbitohs claim the first victory in the 2014 Telstra Premiership over the Sydney Roosters, 28-8. It was a fast paced match with the Souths pack over running the defence of the Roosters.

80

Penalty to South Sydney for another shoulder charge, but it means nothing as the siren echos around Sydney Olympic Park

Beau Champion jumped quickly looking to take an intercept pass as the Roosters spread to Michael Jennings. Scrum packs for the Roosters 10 metres shy of halfway

72

John Sutton took a dive towards the goal post but met the pads. Issac Luke in the previous play looked to burrow under the defence on the last tackle, however it's all in vain. Roosters come up with possession

70

Nathan Merritt almost coming up with points as Reynolds stabbed a kick through the defence but it just beat him over the dead ball line. Meanwhile Chris McQueen is with the trainer as he was caught awkwardly in a tackle.

69

The crowd tonight at ANZ Stadium has been announced at 27,282

69

Penalty to the Rabbitohs for the Roosters ruled offside as they looked to clean up the loose ball from the Rabbitohs. South Sydney attack 10 metres out

67

The Roosters are all over the shop as James Maloney bobbled ball as looked to pass and play out of acting half. Souths with possession from the scrum.

James Maloney pilots a kick downfield on the last tackle and it bounces 10 metres short of the goal line over the sideline. Scrum for South Sydney.

29

20 metre tap is called for the Roosters as the kick from the Rabbitohs is allowed to roll dead. Meanwhile, John Sutton has come off the field for the Rabbitohs with a possible injury.

27

Luke Burgess trying to steal a try is penalised as he had a second dive for the goal line after the original tackle was completed. Roosters release the pressure

26

Beautiful little kick from Dylan Walker to chip over the top of the defence on the Roosters, Shaun Kenny-Dowall attempted to clean up the ball but is trapped in goal. Line drop out for Rabbitohs as they look to build pressure

25

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has been penalised for holding down in the ruck too long. South Sydney advance over the halfway line with the kick for the sideline

Greg Inglis gets GREEN LIGHTS to post the first points for the Rabbitohs in season 2014, he has managed to ground the ball through the Roosters defenders. A monster effort from the Souths fullback

22

VIDEO REFEREE for the South Sydney Rabbitohs – Greg Inglis has powered his way over the line as he danced into a hole created by Sonny Bill Williams. Looking at the grounding under the tackle of four Roosters defenders.

21

Mitchell Pearce concedes a penalty for the Roosters as he had a second dig with the tackle on Adam Reynolds in the ruck. South Sydney march up to attack 20 metres out

20

Forward pass is ruled against the Roosters as Boyd Cordner attempted to offload quickly over to Daniel Tupou in the corner. Scrum for Souths 10 metres off their own goal line.

19

James Maloney fired a kick away aiming for a 40/20 but deflecting into the back of a Rabbitohs defender, zero tackle is called and the Roosters attack on halfway

Michael Jennings has dived in off a final kick ahead from Daniel Tupou as he danced down the sideline to soccer the ball downfield. The Roosters against the run of play opened the scoring under the posts.

9

Forward pass has been called as the Roosters tried to spread across the pack through Anthony Minichiello. Scrum packs for South Sydney on halfway.

Ben Te'o manhandled in the tackle of two defenders and he has dropped the Steeden. Scrum packs for the Roosters as the Rabbitohs give up possession mid-tackle count.

6

George Burgess is wrapped up on the goal line as he darted for the posts. He backed up a brilliant run from lightning fast Chris McQueen. The Roosters defence opened up in the set as the Rabbitohs through Dylan Walker crafted the play

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4

The kick from the Roosters on the last tackle from Maloney is allowed to bounce by Beau Champion and Daniel Tupou. Scrum packs for South Sydney 10 metres off their own goal line.

3

Penalty to the Roosters on the goal line as John Sutton failed to play the ball correctly as Isaac Luke attempted to steal points sneaky. Roosters lucky not to concede on the line.

2

First penalty of the game to the Rabbitohs against Boyd Cordner. Third-man in is the ruling and Rabbitohs through Adam Reynolds kicks for the sideline, they attack just 10 metres out

1

We are UNDERWAY at ANZ Stadium in the first game of the 2014 Premiership season as the South Sydney Rabbitohs kick off. The Roosters running left to right tonight.

The teams are coming out of the sheds now onto ANZ Stadium ahead of kick off in the first game of the 2014 NRL Season.

TEAM NEWS has been confirmed with the South Sydney announcing no late changes to their starting 17. Meaning for the Sydney Roosters, they have one change with Aidan Guerra starting as Frank-Paul Nuuausala to shifts to the bench.

70

Nathan Merritt almost coming up with points as Reynolds stabbed a kick through the defence but it just beat him over the dead ball line. Meanwhile Chris McQueen is with the trainer as he was caught awkwardly in a tackle.

69

The crowd tonight at ANZ Stadium has been announced at 27,282

69

Penalty to the Rabbitohs for the Roosters ruled offside as they looked to clean up the loose ball from the Rabbitohs. South Sydney attack 10 metres out

67

The Roosters are all over the shop as James Maloney bobbled ball as looked to pass and play out of acting half. Souths with possession from the scrum.

James Maloney pilots a kick downfield on the last tackle and it bounces 10 metres short of the goal line over the sideline. Scrum for South Sydney.

29

20 metre tap is called for the Roosters as the kick from the Rabbitohs is allowed to roll dead. Meanwhile, John Sutton has come off the field for the Rabbitohs with a possible injury.

27

Luke Burgess trying to steal a try is penalised as he had a second dive for the goal line after the original tackle was completed. Roosters release the pressure

26

Beautiful little kick from Dylan Walker to chip over the top of the defence on the Roosters, Shaun Kenny-Dowall attempted to clean up the ball but is trapped in goal. Line drop out for Rabbitohs as they look to build pressure

25

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has been penalised for holding down in the ruck too long. South Sydney advance over the halfway line with the kick for the sideline

Greg Inglis gets GREEN LIGHTS to post the first points for the Rabbitohs in season 2014, he has managed to ground the ball through the Roosters defenders. A monster effort from the Souths fullback

22

VIDEO REFEREE for the South Sydney Rabbitohs – Greg Inglis has powered his way over the line as he danced into a hole created by Sonny Bill Williams. Looking at the grounding under the tackle of four Roosters defenders.

21

Mitchell Pearce concedes a penalty for the Roosters as he had a second dig with the tackle on Adam Reynolds in the ruck. South Sydney march up to attack 20 metres out

20

Forward pass is ruled against the Roosters as Boyd Cordner attempted to offload quickly over to Daniel Tupou in the corner. Scrum for Souths 10 metres off their own goal line.

19

James Maloney fired a kick away aiming for a 40/20 but deflecting into the back of a Rabbitohs defender, zero tackle is called and the Roosters attack on halfway

Michael Jennings has dived in off a final kick ahead from Daniel Tupou as he danced down the sideline to soccer the ball downfield. The Roosters against the run of play opened the scoring under the posts.

9

Forward pass has been called as the Roosters tried to spread across the pack through Anthony Minichiello. Scrum packs for South Sydney on halfway.

Ben Te'o manhandled in the tackle of two defenders and he has dropped the Steeden. Scrum packs for the Roosters as the Rabbitohs give up possession mid-tackle count.

6

George Burgess is wrapped up on the goal line as he darted for the posts. He backed up a brilliant run from lightning fast Chris McQueen. The Roosters defence opened up in the set as the Rabbitohs through Dylan Walker crafted the play

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4

The kick from the Roosters on the last tackle from Maloney is allowed to bounce by Beau Champion and Daniel Tupou. Scrum packs for South Sydney 10 metres off their own goal line.

3

Penalty to the Roosters on the goal line as John Sutton failed to play the ball correctly as Isaac Luke attempted to steal points sneaky. Roosters lucky not to concede on the line.

2

First penalty of the game to the Rabbitohs against Boyd Cordner. Third-man in is the ruling and Rabbitohs through Adam Reynolds kicks for the sideline, they attack just 10 metres out

1

We are UNDERWAY at ANZ Stadium in the first game of the 2014 Premiership season as the South Sydney Rabbitohs kick off. The Roosters running left to right tonight.

The teams are coming out of the sheds now onto ANZ Stadium ahead of kick off in the first game of the 2014 NRL Season.

TEAM NEWS has been confirmed with the South Sydney announcing no late changes to their starting 17. Meaning for the Sydney Roosters, they have one change with Aidan Guerra starting as Frank-Paul Nuuausala to shifts to the bench.